What’ll Make Teri Hatcher’s Second NYC Marathon Better? Running With Her Daughter

Teri Hatcher already has a marathon and several triathlons under her belt, but the Desperate Housewives star says nothing compares to the excitement she feels about running the NYC Marathon with her daughter, Emerson Rose, this fall.

The 26.2-miler will mark their first time racing together, a feat Hatcher says has only strengthened their relationship during the rigorous months of training they’ve endured so far.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

We recently caught up with Hatcher, 53, and Rose, 20, to talk about why they decided to make this year’s marathon a family affair, how they’re prepping for race day, and the real reason they’ll cross the finish line together or not at all on November 4.

Runner’s World: Teri, how long have you been a serious runner?

Teri Hatcher: As you know, I ran the NYC Marathon a few years back. And I did a few triathlons. I do think running is a great release and I think there is a whole lot to be learned metaphorically just in the rhythm of your body. But it’s a struggle for me, so I wouldn’t call myself a serious runner. I would call myself someone who tries to run because of the benefits afterward. It makes me feel good.

How often do you run when you aren’t training for a race?

TH: Emerson runs more than I do, but it’s been a part of my interval training over the last five years.

Teri Hatcher is far from the first celebrity to complete 26.2 miles. Are you faster than these A-listers?

What do you love most about running?

Emerson Rose: Similar to what my mom was saying, there’s definitely the endorphin high when you finish your run. I started off on the treadmill doing interval training, but running outside is a great way to see whatever city that you are in. I was just in San Francisco and I loved running through Golden Gate Park in the morning. It feels like a community.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

TH: I agree. When you’re running in downtown Los Angeles—if it’s the right time in the morning—there’s just this beautiful hue that comes over the skyline. It’s gorgeous and there’s graffiti all over the place. I actually love this one little poem that says, “Unfu*k Yourself.” It’s about getting out of your own way, not letting fear dominate your actions. When you’re struggling during a run, it is literally written on the sidewalk, the message to carry on and be your best self. Running is actually a great way to do that.

What’s been the toughest part about training together so far?

TH: You come up against the wall of hitting longer nine- or 10-mile runs. That’s an interesting challenge, breaking through the different mile markers. Honestly, right now, I’ve been dealing with a pretty serious neck injury. So, the last few times I went out running, I was in so much pain it felt like somebody was sticking a hot iron through my scapula. Working beyond injuries, that’s really scary.

How do you help support each other during runs?

EH: For me, it’s all about doing it together. I love working out but, like my mom, I’ve never really considered myself a serious runner. So, doing the marathon isn’t just an amazing physical accomplishment. For me, it’s about the experience of doing it with my mom. I’m really inspired by the fact that she has already run a marathon.

What does your training regimen look like?

TH: We’ve been working with the 26.2 app for a few months. We also got our friend Luke Milton from Training Mates in Los Angeles to come on board. He’s been guiding us with training. A couple of times a week, we do strength training, a couple of times a week we do medium runs, and we do one longer run every week.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Hatcher (left) with her daughter, Rose (center), and their trainer Luke Milton (right).

Martin Rusch

Is it ever hard to run outside together because of the paparazzi?

TH: It’s funny because you definitely don’t look your best nor is any part of my brain focused on that while I’m running. That’s not anywhere on my list, caring what I look like. So it is a weird time to get photographed. I remember when I did the marathon last time, people would periodically notice who I was. You kind of disappear in your baseball cap and sunglasses in the crowd, but somehow people still pick you out. Certainly, in a situation like that, you want to cheer other people on but they want to cheer you on, too. That’s part of the community of running that Emerson was talking about earlier.

“The marathon is like the best part of humanity working toward a goal and achieving it.”

How has running brought you closer?

TH: Exercising, in general, makes you very vulnerable. You can’t hide from your insecurities or your fears. But you also get to welcome in your accomplishments and your prideful moments. So, for me, to share the breadth of those emotions with someone that I love more than anyone is amazing. I think we’re able to learn from each other. It’s kind of priceless.

EH: I completely agree. I know a lot of mothers and daughters do things together, but I feel especially grateful that you are in as good shape as you are so we can share these kinds of physical accomplishments. It’s a different kind of emotional journey.

TH: I’m shooting for four-and-a-half. If Emerson were to do it by herself, she would absolutely be under four.

Teri, what was your time in 2015?

TH: It was 5:03 and I can tell you some specific things about my time. First of all, I did not know until the next day that The New York Times prints every person’s name who runs under 5 hours. So, because of three minutes, I did not get my name in The New York Times. It’s very upsetting.

But, mostly what I remember was, up until mile 15, I was on track for four-and-a-half hours, which I was really happy with. Then I had a stomach problem and it was one of the coldest marathons on record and I did not wear gloves. So I lost about 20 minutes in a porta-potty trying to get my fingers to be able to grasp my compression pants to go to the bathroom and then get my compression pants back up with my frozen fingers. I made a costly mistake there, which was a bummer. So, this year, I’m looking to wear gloves if it’s that cold again, not choose compression pants, and, hopefully, not have the stomach issues that I had last time.

EH: When my mom ran the marathon for the first time, we had a moment where she said, “I don’t think I’m going to make it.” I told her, “No, you’re going to make it.” She kind of hobbled away into the crowd and I said, “Damn, I don’t know if she’s going to make it.”

What are you most looking forward to about completing this year’s race?

EH: I’m most looking forward to the atmosphere. I lived in New York when I was really little so a part of it always feels like home to me. I think going through all of the different neighborhoods that make up the city and seeing all of the people come together towards this massive collective goal is really what I’m looking forward to the most.

TH: I remember reading an article before I did the marathon before about the top 10 mistakes first-time marathoners make. One of the ones that stuck out to me is you don’t pay attention to the crowd. So, having read that, I have such fantastic, in-my-cell memories.

I remember this one person holding a sign that said, “You’re beating everyone behind you.” That made me laugh out loud. I remember coming around a corner where there were these fully uniformed Marines applauding the runners. I started crying because I was thinking, “Wait, the Marines are applauding us? We should be applauding them.”

There was just experience after experience like that. The marathon is like the best part of humanity working toward a goal and achieving it. That exercise and that delayed gratification of how much effort you have to put out in order to see something manifest, I just think it’s an experience unlike any other. That’s what I’m most looking forward to on this day.

Are you running on behalf of a charity this year?

TH: We’re running for Save the Children. It was a really obvious choice for us wanting to be involved with something with children. Since we are mother and daughter, that made a lot of sense.

What is your number one goal for crossing the finish line?

TH: Emerson’s faster and in better shape than I am, soI just want to be able to keep up with her.

EH: I always say every time we head out, “I don’t care about the speed. I don’t care if we walk the marathon. I don’t care if we crawl the marathon. I just want to do it together.”

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Runner's World participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.